Liquid crystal display device with internal retardation layer at reflection region and electronic apparatus

Abstract

A liquid crystal device, in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates, includes a plurality of pixels and a retardation layer. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. The retardation layer is arranged at a position that at least overlaps the reflective display areas and on an inner surface side of the pair of substrates. The retardation layer is formed so as to extend over the reflective display areas of at least two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels. The retardation layer has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is located on one of the two adjacent pixels. The second end portion is opposite the first end portion and located on the other pixel of the two adjacent pixels.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus that is provided with the liquid crystal device and, more particularly, to a liquid crystal device that has a retardation layer formed on an inner surface side of a liquid crystal panel.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]In order to achieve a wide viewing angle of a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display device that drives liquid crystal using an electric field, such as a so-called fringe field switching (hereinafter, referred to as FFS) mode display device or a so-called in-plane switching (hereinafter, IPS) mode display device, has been practically used. In addition, among the above liquid crystal display devices, liquid crystal display devices, in which a plurality of pixels each have a transmissive display area and a reflective display area, have been proposed. Furthermore, in order to eliminate a difference in retardation due to a difference in le...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This configuration significantly reduces the area occupied by defective display regions, enhancing image quality by minimizing the influence of tapered or step portions and maintaining high contrast even when the end portions are outside the display area.

Problems solved by technology

However, because the retardation layer, which is different from a sheet-like retardation film, is formed by applying liquid crystal polymer on a substrate surface, or the like, a wide tapered portion appears at an end portion, and thereby light that exits by being transmitted through the tapered portion is not appropriately modulated.

Thus, even when the end portion of the retardation layer is a tapered portion that decreases display quality, an area in each pixel, occupied by the tapered portion, is extremely small.

When the end portion of the retardation layer is located on the pixel, a decrease in display quality occurs due to the tapered end portion of the retardation layer; however, in the liquid crystal device according to the second aspect, the end portion of the retardation layer is located outside the plurality of pixels.

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